Supposedly, Murder By Death lives in Bloomington, Indiana, so judging from the lyrical content in the past four MBD records, the University of Indiana campus is rampant with pirates, hangings and fatal showdowns, as well as possibly providing refuge to Lucifer. The indie-Goth four-piece continues to provide gloomy, sometimes menacing concept albums, first with “The Devil in Mexico,” then with twelve stories of sin and punishment, and now with an Odyssey-esque revenge tale in “Red of Tooth and Claw.” Lead singer Adam Turla’s macabre baritone only reinforces the band’s Gothic persona—with lyrics like “I’ve got a hunger in my gut, my skin has turned to leather, my hair is banded rope,” he continues to prove that if he lived in Old West America, circa late nineteenth century, he’d probably kill a couple of cowboys before getting eaten by a werewolf. This show features a guest appearance from the band’s old keyboardist, Vincent Edwards, so expect a heavy dose of older tunes for a change. (Andy Seifert)
November 20 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark, (773)549-0203, 9pm.
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Last Punks Standing: A Preview of Mekons at Hideout Mekons have endured by refusing to adhere to anyone's ideas regarding what is and isn't punk rock (which is in and of itself a defiantly punk attitude).
